Teaching English in Chile

Everything you need to know about teaching English “Inpais del poetas” (the country of poets).

Getting bored in Chile is nearly impossible as there is enough to see and do to keep you busy for a lifetime. With a growing demand for English language skills, teachers are in demand all over – giving qualified teachers opportunities to explore all walks of life in this truly remarkable country. Go and see for yourself!

Wages

Wages

Expect to make somewhere between $500 and $1,000 a month in Chile. Perhaps a little more if you’ve got a lot of experience.

Lifestyle

Lifestyle

Locals are famous for their warm welcomes and lively culture. You’ll find festivals, emerging cities, and incredible nature.

Communication

Communication

Is your Spanish not super great yet? Don’t worry because a lot of people in cities and towns speak at least a bit of English.

Climate

Climate

The northern part knows a desert climate with warm weather all year long. The south is pretty much the opposite, with glaciers and cold temperatures. Central Chile has a Mediterranean climate.

TEFL Wages in Chile

How much you will earn depends on your experience and qualifications. An average teacher will earn around $600-800 per month, but there are exceptions. Prominent schools and universities will pay more for well-qualified teachers, just as smaller schools in rural areas will often have smaller budgets.

Class types: Wages:
Private schools $500-$800 p/m
Universities $600-$1,000 p/m
Tutoring Around $10 per hour

The cost of living varies depending on where you live. You’ll often find that you earn more teaching in bigger towns and cities, but after the additional costs you’ll end up with the same in your bank at the end of each month.

Overall, you’re looking at paying around $350 to $700 a month for your accommodation and living expenses – so don’t expect to save much while teaching in Chile. You’ll come away with incredible life experiences, well-tested teaching skills, and maybe even the ability to speak Spanish, but your bank account will look pretty much the same as when you arrived unless you plan on supplementing your wages with tutoring.

Where to teach English in Chile

Arriving in Chile might be a little overwhelming, perhaps even a lot. The country stretches far and wide with large areas of wilderness that separate bigger cities by thousands of kilometers. It is a place of extremes, with glaciers, deserts, mountains, and valleys.

So where do you go to teach? We’ve highlighted a few destinations to give you something to start with.

Here are some of the top picks for places to teach in Chile:

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Food in Chile

This country knows a lot of different areas in terms of climate and nature, so naturally, this reflects on Chilean cuisine. There’s a lot of seafood, what else to expect with 4,270 km of coastline, and of course wine from Chile is known around the world. But of course it’s not just fish and wine, so let’s have a look at what locals eat on a daily basis.

English teaching requirements in Chile

Teaching standards in Chile are high and there are a number of conditions you have to meet before starting your teaching career.

Non-natives: If you don’t have a passport from the UK/US/IRE/CAN/AUS/NZ/SA, you can still get a fully legal work permit in Chile, however, you should be prepared for a more challenging time finding a job as employers do have a preference for native speakers.

Teachers without degrees: Schools in Chile have a slightly stronger preference for degree-holders, but if you have a TEFL certificate, it can still be possible to find work here. However, you should expect to fly out to Chile and job-hunt in person.

Start your journey today!

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